Abstract: The present invention is directed to a body formed of a refractory material and a method of forming a refractory body. The body formed of a refractory material comprises a plurality of slits formed into one of its surfaces. The slits relieve thermal stress in the body and prevent cracking that would otherwise occur. In one embodiment, the invention can be a body formed of a refractory material comprising: a first surface and an opposing second surface; and a pattern of stress relief slits formed into at least one of the first and second surfaces of the body.

Abstract: The burner assembly of the present invention broadly comprises a burner pan having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an inlet extending from the lower surface, a burner top complimentarily shaped to the burner pan and having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a plurality of ports extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, a gasket disposed about the periphery of the burner pan upper surface and intermediate the upper surface and the burner top inner surface, a cavity defined by the burner pan upper surface, the burner top inner surface, and the gasket, and the burner top outer surface having an appearance of a plurality of logs and an ember bed.

Abstract: A panel for simulating a firebox for use in an electric fireplace and an electric fireplace incorporating the same. The electric fireplace includes housing with a grate, a plurality of artificial firelogs positioned on the grate and an ember bed positioned under the grate. A light source is positioned to transmit light through a plurality of apertures in a rotatable cylinder that is disposed rearwardly of the firelogs. The panel is a planar member that is positioned in the housing between the cylinder and the firelogs. The panel includes a pattern thereon which represents a firebox of a wood-burning fireplace. The pattern is formed by silk-screening, painting or etching a pattern of a flat wall of firebricks, a recessed wall of firebricks, stones, logs or any other markings that represent a firebox found in a fireplace.

Abstract: A three-dimensional panel used in an electric fireplace to simulate a firebox of a wood burning fireplace and an electric fireplace incorporating the same. The electric fireplace includes housing having a light source positioned so as to transmit light through the panel. The panel is vacuum-molded to have a pattern formed therein and thereon. The pattern represents elements found in a wood burning fireplace such as firebricks, stoneworks, logs, a logset, a grate and embers or any other elements typically found in a wood-burning fireplace's firebox. The pattern is formed by a combination of molding these elements into the materials from which the panel is made and applying coloring agents to the panel either during the molding process or after the panel has been formed. The panel may be positioned between an artificial logset and the light source if the logset is not molded into the panel.